Alps emerge as top destination for active coolcation holidays

A rising travel trend known as ‘coolcations’—vacations focused on escaping summer heat—has seen a 74% year-on-year increase in searches. As travelers seek relief from record temperatures, new research by SportsCover Direct highlights the Alps as a major competitor to traditional Scandinavian destinations for active, cool summer holidays.

The Mont Blanc region in France ranked first in a study of European destinations for active coolcations, scoring 73.7 out of 100. The Alps secured four spots in the top ten, including the Austrian Tyrol in fifth place, Hohe Tauern National Park in eighth, and the Swiss Valais in ninth. Global Google searches for ‘Alpine summer’ have surged by 222%.

In Scandinavia, the Swedish region of Åre and the Jämtland Mountains placed second, while Norway’s Lofoten Islands ranked seventh. Additionally, separate analysis of European cities identifies Bergen, Oslo, and Helsinki as the coolest major urban destinations during the summer months.